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Mackinac County commissioners deny six reclassification requests, post proposed budget and reappoint EUP 911 member
Summary
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied six job reclassification requests, approved posting the proposed budget for 14 days, re-appointed Bryce Tracy to the EUP 911 Board and authorized the chair to sign a promissory note for a courtroom remodel; routine bills and four budget amendments were also approved.
The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 8 in the Annex Boardroom and took a series of unanimous votes on personnel and fiscal items, including denying six job reclassification requests and approving the proposed budget for public posting.
The meeting, called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Mike Patrick, opened with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners present were Austin Kimberling, John Kling, Mike Patrick, Daryl Schroeder and Judy St. Louis-Scott.
Clerk Hillary Vowell asked the board to re-appoint Bryce Tracy to the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP) 911 Board. The board approved the re-appointment on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Treasurer Tina Massey raised concerns about a Budget Committee recommendation on the treasurer’s wage. "I disagree with the comparable data that the Budget Committee used to recommend the treasurer's wage increase," Massey said, and provided handouts from MACT and several similarly sized counties for the board to review. Commissioners Kimberling and Schroeder asked clarifying questions; Chair Patrick asked where Massey thought her wage should be.
On a motion by Commissioner Austin Kimberling, seconded by Commissioner Daryl Schroeder, the board authorized Chair Patrick to sign a promissory note from First National Bank related to a courtroom remodel. The promissory note authorization passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. (The transcript did not specify the loan amount.)
The board then addressed multiple classification requests. On successive motions (all moved by Commissioner Kimberling with various seconds) the board voted unanimously to deny reclassification requests for the following positions: Chief Deputy Treasurer; Deputy Treasurer; Chief Deputy Register of Deeds; Juvenile Probation Officer; Deputy Administrative Clerk; and Airport Maintenance. Commissioner John Kling said the reclassification process has not been correctly handled for years and recommended fixing the county wage scale and adhering to budget policies to address such requests going forward.
The board moved to approve the proposed county budget and to post it publicly for 14 days for review and comment; that motion passed unanimously. The board also approved regular bills of Nov. 26 in the amount of $256,833.46 and additional bills of Dec. 8 in the amount of $119,900.76.
The commissioners reviewed and approved four budget amendments (#2025-40, #2025-41, #2025-42 and #2025-43) on unanimous roll-call votes. The board received communications including an Animal Shelter report and the October banking report.
Road Commissioners Lester Livermore and Tom Doty addressed the board and said they see no need to expand the Road Commission from three to five members, noting that three elected, staggered six-year terms provide sufficient representation. Chair Patrick raised the prospect of moving a part-time maintenance position to full time, and Commissioner Kling suggested reviewing airport staffing and job structure when the current airport manager retires.
The board scheduled a Committee of the Whole meeting for Dec. 11 at 4:00 p.m. and set the next regular meeting for Dec. 22 at noon. The meeting adjourned at 1:06 p.m.
Votes at a glance
- Approve agenda: moved by Commissioner Austin Kimberling; second Judy St. Louis-Scott; outcome: approved, Roll call YES: Kimberling, Kling, Patrick, Schroeder, St. Louis-Scott (5-0). - Approve minutes (Nov. 13, 2025): moved by Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Re-appoint Bryce Tracy to EUP 911 Board: moved Kimberling; second Kling; approved (5-0). - Authorize Chair to sign promissory note (First National Bank) for courtroom remodel: moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). Loan amount: not specified in transcript. - Deny reclass request, Chief Deputy Treasurer: moved Kimberling; second Kling; approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Deputy Treasurer: moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds: moved Kimberling; second Kling; approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Juvenile Probation Officer: moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Deputy Admin Clerk: moved Kimberling; second Kling; approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Airport Maintenance: moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Post proposed budget for 14 days: moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Approve bills Nov. 26 ($256,833.46): moved Kimberling; second St. Louis-Scott; approved (5-0). - Approve bills Dec. 8 ($119,900.76): moved Kimberling; second Schroeder; approved (5-0). - Approve budget amendments #2025-40, #2025-41, #2025-42, #2025-43: motions moved by Kimberling (seconds varied); all approved (5-0).
Next steps
The board will post the proposed budget for public review for 14 days and reconvene for its next regular meeting on Dec. 22 at noon. The Committee of the Whole will meet Dec. 11 at 4:00 p.m.
